First electric tractor ride

[tbarrick]

I'm thinking this price would come down as the technology advances.
Then I think of the mining needed to make one battery and become unconvinced that it would.
I also think that unless synthetics are created for what the raw essential minerals accomplish that comprise a battery makeup such as iron, cobalt, lithium, copper, etc, the scarring to the earth might be as prolific as more and more giant holes are dug. Plus these minerals are in abundance in certain spots only.

I wonder how long a nuclear reactor about the size of a coffee can would propel a vehicle for.

Salesman came buy the dealership yesterday peddling a Solectrac (spl?) tractor. The owner jumped on and rode it around for awhile. He said it was pretty smooth running, quiet and responsive. The salesman stated that this tractor would save over $12,000 in fuel costs over a similar diesel powered machine in a 10 yr period. The battery was good for that long and I asked about a battery purchase price. He didn't know the answer to that one and kept saying "it's guaranteed for 10 yrs. What tractor company do you know of that guarantees their engine for that long"?
At any rate, the tractor was good for 3-6 hrs on a charge and would charge in 8 hrs on a 220 circuit. It weighed similar to a fueled tractor of that size at 2300 lbs.
MSRP price was $28,000. Came with ags on it. Industrial and turfs were about $1500 more and a loader was about $4600.

In my opinion, It has its place for light use like on a horse farm of small garden or short driveway. If your climate gets below freezing in the winter, you have to heat up the battery with a blanket for it to take a charge. It is a lithium/iron battery that itself must be at 32*
My overall impression was that it was nice for what it was and has its place for someone.
I wouldn't buy it to save the planet as some believe electrics will but I guess its main thrust is towards convenience.
I don't think it would like pulling a 2000 lb log behind it for long or plowing out a 1000 foot driveway with 15" of snow. There is no front pto mount for it as yet..
cet-electric-tractor

Warranty on battery is not the engine....it is the fuel...electric motor is the engine and when it has issues you replace the motor not the components.

 

[Smokeydog]

For electrical vehicles to gain acceptance they need to cost half as much and last twice as long compared to their gas cousins. Like similar technological advancements pathways.

My tractor shed has no power. Aside from cost of installation there would be a $30/mo utilities charge for a meter wither I use any power or not. That’s $3,600 for 10 years at the current rate.

Current advancements and improvements has resale of 10 year old electric/hybrid vehicles dismal. Like computers and phones.

Plenty of other energy saving devices that are proven and ready to save significant resources now. Heat pumps, heat pump hot water heaters, appliances, construction materials and techniques, low hanging fruit that’s pie ready.

 

[kenb1023]

No reliability track record, short run time, long charge time, temperature limitations and overall costs. This is a pass for me. I will stick with my diesel. Will need to get 50K hours of real field work evaluations, quick change batteries so you can swap and keep working and more real maintenance costs. Someday it may be viable but today is not that day in my opinion

 

[Rebeldad1]

new holland has one now

 

[Calgaryglenn]

Salesman came buy the dealership yesterday peddling a Solectrac (spl?) tractor. The owner jumped on and rode it around for awhile. He said it was pretty smooth running, quiet and responsive. The salesman stated that this tractor would save over $12,000 in fuel costs over a similar diesel powered machine in a 10 yr period. The battery was good for that long and I asked about a battery purchase price. He didn't know the answer to that one and kept saying "it's guaranteed for 10 yrs. What tractor company do you know of that guarantees their engine for that long"?
At any rate, the tractor was good for 3-6 hrs on a charge and would charge in 8 hrs on a 220 circuit. It weighed similar to a fueled tractor of that size at 2300 lbs.
MSRP price was $28,000. Came with ags on it. Industrial and turfs were about $1500 more and a loader was about $4600.

In my opinion, It has its place for light use like on a horse farm of small garden or short driveway. If your climate gets below freezing in the winter, you have to heat up the battery with a blanket for it to take a charge. It is a lithium/iron battery that itself must be at 32*
My overall impression was that it was nice for what it was and has its place for someone.
I wouldn't buy it to save the planet as some believe electrics will but I guess its main thrust is towards convenience.
I don't think it would like pulling a 2000 lb log behind it for long or plowing out a 1000 foot driveway with 15" of snow. There is no front pto mount for it as yet..
cet-electric-tractor

Maybe I'm just old and have heard a lot of BS over years but I'm skeptical. You would have to log on a lot of hours to save $1200 a year on fuel, I'm estimating 550- 700 a year to burn that much fuel. If you are putting on that many hours it would be plugged in every night and electricity ain't free! The electric car guys say that the electrical cost averages 40% of the cost of fuel.
So to say it will pay for itself in fuel saving is a stretch.
The second point is battery life, they last on average 10-12 years what is the replacement cost? A tesla battery is $20,000+, what's this one cost?
I'ii pass......

 

[TMBRWLF]

Made in India is what the rep stated.

Si is my MF tractor. Other than the DPF pluging twice in 150hrs. Its ok too l guess. Not sure after the 5yr warranty what that will cost besides down time.

 

[Surshot]

I own a pine tree farm, I will watch while you folks play with them.
I have a 48 volt electric cart, I have had since 04, it does a good job for light work, but when you weigh it down, it uses a lot of power quickly. I expect that hauling logs all day on a grapple would be very power consuming. would like to see it perform, bushhogging.

 

[Flad]

Before any one says that EV's are less poluting than fossil fueled any thing , just take a look at what's involved in manufacturing raw lithium the main ingreadiant to be made in to batteries, Then there is the thousands of gallons of toxic coolant or anti freese that goes into the batteries to stop them over heating on load or the ability to charge them at low tempratures, all that's happening is that you don't see the polutants or their effects on the eco system until it's to late, just like when the transition from steam (coal) went to diesel fuel. Stick to Diesel fuel at least we know what's killing the planet.

 

[nickfank]

Maybe I'm just old and have heard a lot of BS over years but I'm skeptical. You would have to log on a lot of hours to save $1200 a year on fuel, I'm estimating 550- 700 a year to burn that much fuel. If you are putting on that many hours it would be plugged in every night and electricity ain't free! The electric car guys say that the electrical cost averages 40% of the cost of fuel.
So to say it will pay for itself in fuel saving is a stretch.
The second point is battery life, they last on average 10-12 years what is the replacement cost? A tesla battery is $20,000+, what's this one cost?
I'ii pass......

I'm with you on doubting the $1,200 fuel savings for a typical person. It would probably hold true for a commercial user who plans to run it for the full 6 hours per day.

Because this isn't a lithium ion battery, I'd expect a cost of around $2,000 to replace the battery pack.

(BTW, cost to replace a Tesla model 3 battery = $13K, model X = $14K. The only way I can think of that you might come close to $20K would be on something like one of the long range premium editions, but those are for the Maserati crowd...)

 

[Paystar]

Before any one says that EV's are less poluting than fossil fueled any thing , just take a look at what's involved in manufacturing raw lithium the main ingreadiant to be made in to batteries, Then there is the thousands of gallons of toxic coolant or anti freese that goes into the batteries to stop them over heating on load or the ability to charge them at low tempratures, all that's happening is that you don't see the polutants or their effects on the eco system until it's to late, just like when the transition from steam (coal) went to diesel fuel. Stick to Diesel fuel at least we know what's killing the planet.

That's the problem with the greater percentage of the population now. They are extremely short sighted and easily brainwashed. That's why our current government loves them so much.


If you don't think for one second that electric rates are not going to skyrocket once demand ramps up, you better open your eyes.
Not to mention the mining, manufacturing and power generation are going to equal the pollutants they are claimed to save.

I can though see this current government on both sides of the border stopping the sale of gas and diesel to all us citizens. (I'm sure their jets will still get fuel though.)
All I can hope for is that I'll get a little extra time to buy fuel with some kind of exemption because I own a trucking company and have my property registered as a farm.

 

[ultrarunner]

But just think....no more wondering if the diesel tractor will start or waiting for it to warm up. Agree on the plug at the top of the hood. Duh

Less chance of driving off with plug in plain view...

 

[nickfank]

Before any one says that EV's are less poluting than fossil fueled any thing , just take a look at what's involved in manufacturing raw lithium the main ingreadiant to be made in to batteries, Then there is the thousands of gallons of toxic coolant or anti freese that goes into the batteries to stop them over heating on load or the ability to charge them at low tempratures, all that's happening is that you don't see the polutants or their effects on the eco system until it's to late, just like when the transition from steam (coal) went to diesel fuel. Stick to Diesel fuel at least we know what's killing the planet.

It's certainly true that mining (not manufacturing) lithium is as prone to environmental problems as any metal mining operation such as iron or aluminum. However, like all metals, Lithium can be recycled. It isn't "used up" like fossil fuels.

I'm puzzled about that coolant issue... Our two EVs have coolant and a radiator. It's about the same amount of coolant as our conventional car has. But we don't pump it onto the ground. In fact, I've never changed it, and the maintenance schedule doesn't call for changing it, because it's a truly closed system. There's no head gasket for it to circulate through, and no seal on a water pump, so it doesn't have the inevitable contamination issue that coolant on ICE's has. In our two cars, it doesn't circulate through the battery pack, which is air-cooled. The coolant is for the inverters. I can imagine using coolant in the battery packs on a high performance car, but I don't know why it wouldn't be circulated through a closed system in that case too.

Your point about taking care to identify the possible problems is a good one, but so far, Electric is looking pretty good in comparison to ICEs. I speak as someone who has actual experience with using and maintaining both, so what I'm saying here isn't just something I read on the Internet.

 

[Henry Island Guy]

I wonder what a forum like this would have looked like when the first gas powered tractors were hitting the market claiming to replace horses!

 

[ultrarunner]

This is not new....Electric lawn tractors, compact tractors and even large tractors have been tried for decades..for various reasons they never caught on..cost and battery issues/technology being the main problems.... If you research the all electric vehicle industry as it stands right now "with unbiased facts and stats" the truth is that electric cars on average have somewhere between 30&40% more issues and problems than gasoline/diesel powered. Also the dangers of LION batteries is just now starting to show itself...fires, explosions, toxic gas, etc, etc, etc. The firefighting world is one of the best places to find out about the true dangers and how they are becoming more and more common. That said..sure an electric tractor might be nice and fun for certain things..But all things considered I beleve that a world powered by batteries is not going to happen in any massive scale for many years to come....In all truth there is no such thing as "Green Energy"... It all has to come from the ground at some point....name one thing we use and consume that doesn't.

The farm back in the 30's had a small hydro and wind generator mostly for radio and pretty clean operation...

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone figure the Federal State and Local rebates plus utility incentive for charging station?

I wonder if driving to town in the HOV lane is included?

If someone gave me one I wouldn't complain...

 

[CoyotKid]

If you want Made In America, wait till next year. Old GM plant in Lordstown, OH will make your day: Foxconn debuts all-electric tractor in Lordstown
And you can run it from your computer.

 

[ruffdog]

If you want Made In America, wait till next year. Old GM plant in Lordstown, OH will make your day: Foxconn debuts all-electric tractor in Lordstown
And you can run it from your computer.

Foxconn has made many promises around the world over the years that have fizzled. I will believe it when I see it.

 

[MossRoad]

The farm back in the 30's had a small hydro and wind generator mostly for radio and pretty clean operation...

About 10 years ago I was in the basement of an old farmhouse at a history museum over in Ohio and they had a bank of glass batteries that were originally hooked to the windmill. 100+year old technology. Worked well, from what I read.

 

[ruffdog]

I think a EV tractor would be very handy to use. I have used EV fork trucks for years and a tractor would be similar with the hydraulics. I am really leery about the future of current battery design though. I don't think supplies will support manufacturing that many batteries. I'm hoping that new battery technology will be MUCH better in the near future. I think we have a long way to go for this to be mainstream.

 

[CoyotKid]

Foxconn has made many promises around the world over the years that have fizzled. I will believe it when I see it.

And to run it "wirelessly" you will probably need good cell coverage. Even living in a fairly populous part of the country, I could just see my robot tractor cutting the neighbors field <grin> and will it stop for a dog or groundhog?